Paracel Islands
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Paracel Islands

Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands, known as the Xisha Islands in China and the Hoang Sa Archipelago in Vietnam, is a group of more than 30 islands in the South China Sea located between the coastlines of Vietnam and China. They are currently controlled by China but also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. The islands were the scene of a naval battle between China and then South Vietnam in January 1974, after which China gained control of the entire archipelago.
A conservation team has spent six days reinforcing a 1946 monument to mark China’s takeover of the Paracel Islands after World War II. Photo: Handout
South China Sea

Beijing launches historic preservation campaign to cement South China Sea claims

Conservation specialists repair monument on Woody Island in the disputed Paracel Islands, with more preservation work planned.

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South China Sea

China, Australia trade blame after PLA jet releases flares in mid-air encounter

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South China Sea

Why Beijing’s new plan to bolster its South China Sea claims has Manila worried

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Science

How China could turn Paracels into a submarine kill zone in South China Sea

Chinese military scientists propose turning treacherous stretch with underground mountains into a deadly minefield for enemy vessels.

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Aerial view of a reef that is part of the contested Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Photo: Getty Images
Vietnam

Vietnam’s island-building on disputed Spratlys to surpass China’s efforts: report

Satellite images show Vietnam has begun reclamation on eight reefs and upgraded military infrastructure in disputed waters.

South China Sea

Opinion | How Beijing and other South China Sea claimants can see eye to eye

The perception gap stems from both historical roots and legal interpretations. A joint, fact-based, truly collaborative process could be a start.

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South China Sea

China tells US to rein in frontline forces after South China Sea ‘infringement’

Beijing protests over USS Higgins’ presence near Scarborough Shoal while American navy says its presence is lawful.

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The USS Higgins on patrol in the South China Sea on Wednesday. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP
South China Sea

Asian Angle | Asean, Beijing need new strategy for binding code of conduct in South China Sea

A recalibrated approach is needed to narrow differences, strengthen trust, and ensure a legally binding code that promotes regional stability.

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US-China relations

‘Unsafe and irresponsible’: US weighs in on China-Philippines aerial encounter

State Department calls on Beijing to ‘refrain from coercive actions and settle its disputes peacefully’.

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South China Sea

Beijing ready with fresh tactics if Manila launches new South China Sea case: expert

On sidelines of Munich Security Conference, Chinese maritime analyst Wu Shicun says Beijing has new tools since Hague ruling in 2016.

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Wu Shicun, founder of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, says China will have a different strategy and tools if Manila launches another arbitration case regarding Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea. Photo: Xinhua
South China Sea

China says Australian military plane intruded into its airspace

Accusation comes after Australia says a Chinese military jet conducted ‘unsafe’ manoeuvres over international waters.

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China on Thursday hit back at the Australian military, accusing an Australian P-8A Poseidon aircraft of deliberately intruding into its airspace. Photo: Royal Australian Defence Force
South China Sea

South China Sea: Beijing submits Scarborough Shoal baseline documents to UN

Incoming US president Donald Trump’s administration may challenge declaration of straight baselines as overreach by China, say experts.

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South China Sea

‘Display of arrogance’: deep divisions surface at Manila’s South China Sea forum

As the ramming of ships and use of water cannons dominated discussions, questions arose about the legality of China’s actions.

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Vietnam

South China Sea: tensions over Beijing’s continued detention of Vietnam fishermen

While China claims the fishermen were illegally fishing in its waters, Vietnam insists they were operating within their rights.

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Fishermen pulling their net on Vietnam’s offshore Ly Son island close to the disputed Paracel archipelago in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP
South China Sea

South China Sea: how does Philippines’ coastguard measure up against others?

Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam have boosted their naval and coastguard assets as tensions in the disputed waters continue to simmer.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr reviews coastguard personnel next to the patrol ship BRP Gabriela Silang on October 22. Photo: EPA-EFE
China-Asean relations

Vietnam trip offers Chinese premier chance to mend ties after fishermen ‘attack’

Li Qiang’s visit follows a recent protest over an incident in the Paracel Islands and offers Beijing a chance to keep its neighbour onside.

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Science

Declassified Chinese operation sheds light on doomed US submarine incident

Newly released data from a giant whirlpool near the Paracel Islands could give fresh clues about a major US Navy incident.

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South China Sea

Is China downplaying ‘restrained’ clash with fishermen near Paracel Islands?

Vietnam says Chinese personnel boarded a local fishing boat on Sunday and beat the crew with iron bars, seriously injuring four of them.

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Fishermen pulling their net on Vietnam’s offshore Ly Son island, the country’s closest island to the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP
South China Sea

Explainer | Who is winning the fight for the South China Sea’s resources?

Claimants are competing for fish, oil and gas amid unresolved maritime boundaries and differing interpretations of law.

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Vietnam

As South China Sea stakes ratchet ever higher, Vietnam seeks out calmer waters

Hanoi’s new leadership is doubling down on ‘bamboo diplomacy’ to navigate choppy geopolitical currents and protect economic gains.

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Diplomacy

China, Vietnam reaffirm ties with To Lam’s visit to Beijing

Vietnam’s new leader received a warm welcome in Beijing on his inaugural foreign visit, as the two socialist partners moved past territorial conflicts and cemented relations with a number of cooperation deals.

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam with a tea ceremony in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua
South China Sea

China confirms discovery of major natural gas field in South China Sea

The location, in waters southeast of Hainan, is estimated to contain more than 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas.

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China has confirmed the discovery of a major gas field in the South China Sea, state media has reported. Called Lingshui 36-1, the field is estimated to contain more than 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas and is the world’s first “ultra-shallow gas field in ultra-deep waters”, Xinhua said. Photo: China National Offshore Oil Corporation
South China Sea

Beijing opens hardware store on South China Sea’s disputed Woody Island

The new shop in the Paracel Islands is part of China’s push to expand civilian facilities and cement territorial claims in contested waters.

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South China Sea

How is China’s ‘maritime militia’ supporting the PLA in the South China Sea?

Hundreds of fishing vessels used as auxiliary forces are ‘floating pieces of sovereignty’ that help the PLA with surveillance, reclamation support and disaster relief.

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South China Sea

PLA deploys nation’s biggest hospital ship to contested South China Sea

Silk Road Ark, China’s biggest hospital ship, is on its maiden voyage, with hopes it will ‘better serve operational demand and battle readiness’.

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The Silk Road Ark, China’s newest and biggest hospital ship, made its public debut on Wednesday as it left Zhanjiang for the islands and reefs in Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands to provide medical services. Photo: Weibo/央广军事
South China Sea

Beijing exploiting talks to assert control over South China Sea: analysts

Analysts argue Beijing’s negotiations with the Philippines are being exploited to normalise China’s control over contested territory.

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Philippine coastguard personnel prepare rubber fenders after a Chinese coastguard vessel blocked the way during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in March. Photo: Reuters
South China Sea

Writing of South China Sea rule book delayed by lack of trust: maritime expert

Wu Shicun, founding president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, is pessimistic about progress of South China Sea Code of Conduct.

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South China Sea

China has drawn its line in the Gulf of Tonkin. Is the South China Sea next?

Beijing has released a series of points to define its waters along its southern coast, which some observers say extends its maritime area.

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